Polish craft gin: Andrzej Weclawski about Breslauer Spirits

Breslauer Spirits handmakes Polish Gin in their own distillery in Wrocław. These 4 gins surprise consumers with wonderfully original tastes and outstanding intensity. The highest quality, natural botanicals, spices, herbs and fruits are all sourced locally in Poland from small suppliers. Breslauer Gin is an authentic spirits producer committed to only true tastes and this is also why they are a part of the constantly growing TRUE SPIRITS network of honest spirits.

Wroclaw Spirits founder Andrzej Weclawski reveals exactly what this means in an interview. We spoke to him about the brand, the gin and its production.

How did you transition from the IT business to becoming the owner of a gin brand?

Andrzej Weclawski: I was always kind of a restless soul, and couldn’t sit in one place for too long. I had one IT startup alongside a day job but all these years in front of a computer I think I was missing working on something that you can touch, a physical product. At the same time, I love to cook and have a very keen sense of smell and something you could call “flavour imagination”. Gin has always been my favourite spirit as well and it gives the most freedom to the creator. When the idea hit us “Let’s make Polish craft gin”, it was at a time when there was actually just one in existence – I didn’t have to think for long before getting into action.

You produce your gin in your own distillery. Was that the plan from the beginning?

Andrzej Weclawski: Yes, straight away I started analysing Polish law regarding this – and believe me – it is not helpful at all! I would have considered the contract brand only if I had seen it as not feasible. Our own distillery gives me full control over the process as well as scaling possibilities, which we already need thanks to how fast our brand is growing.

What do you see as your brand’s greatest strength?

Andrzej Weclawski: Unconventional flavour profiles and intensity of aromas. There are thousands of gin brands in the world, but the vast majority of them have quite similar taste profiles differing only with subtleties and nuances. All this comes from choosing the well established mix of traditionally used gin botanicals like juniper (Angelica root or Licorice) as a base for their recipes. But we took it a step further and alongside more gin-ish versions like Lemongrass or Curacao, created Smokey Gin with peated qualities found more often in Whisky or Summer Gin which sources inspiration from the Rum World with its coconut and pineapple base.

How important are local ingredients and botanicals for your spirits?

Andrzej Weclawski: They play a very important role. In the making of our product we use solely the highest quality, natural botanicals. All spices, herbs and fruits that can be found in Poland are sourced locally from small suppliers – for example Juniper and spruce needles come from the Białowieża Forest – a UNESCO world nature area of wonder.

How do you view the Polish distillery community and what distinguishes it?

Andrzej Weclawski: It is very open and friendly I have to say, probably because it is as well very young. Craft revolution in spirits started a few years ago here, following an already mature beer and wine sectir. Most people know and help each other as I think we all understand that at the beginning of this road we’re all shooting for the same goal – to create a market as well as consumer’s awareness and the need for highest quality, craft spirits.

What is the focus for the upcoming months, and what are your next expansion steps?

Andrzej Weclawski: We focus on supplying our very rapidly growing demand locally and in Denmark where we have a wonderful partner that helps us there. Started in January, we work on expansion to one or two new countries. We don’t want to rush it too much as for us at the forefront and main focus always was and will be – the quality that we provide to people that have fallen in love with our gins.

You are also part of the TRUE SPIRITS network. How important is authentic marketing to you?

Andrzej Weclawski: Absolutely crucial! I personally don’t feel good in storytelling around the real thing and creating stuff that is there just to make an impression – I am an engineer after all. That is why from the beginning, we wanted what is inside the bottle to be the biggest value instead of just selling “the story” to people.

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+++ We thank Andrzej Weclawski for the open and very interesting interview! If you also have an interesting brand, then we should talk. Just send us an email with the subject “about-drinks interview” to redaktion@about-drinks.com – we look forward to hearing from you! +++